Overview

The exhibition based upon the folklore Asaja (Snake Morning Tea) told by people of Aizuwakamatsu City in Fukushima Prefecture was presented at Aizu Urushi Art Festival 2011. This exhibition consisted of Japanese teacups with Aizu Urushi coating and an installation made from roofing tiles was displayed.

In the story, a venomous snake mistakenly heard his brother because of his heavy accent; the snake thought he said “I drank serpents in the morning”, instead of what he really said: “I drank tea in the morning.”  Terrified, the snake ran away. The story then goes on to tell how the two managed to narrowly miss being victims of injury.

On March 11th, 2011 when the Great East Japan Earthquake, the Aizuwakamatsu area was found to have little damage. Furukawa felt that there was some kind of fate in how miscommunication could save people from harm. Cooperation from the venue, the restaurant Tsuki to Ohisama (Moon and Sun) enabled the teacups to be incorporated into their menu.